Turnovers Figure As Broncos' Hope

SAN DIEGO — The Denver Broncos need only glance at history to assess their chances of upsetting the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.

If they turn the ball over, they lose. It is that simple, and always has been, for the AFC.

The few AFC Super Bowl wins over the last two decades have been by the Raiders, and in each case they "stole" the game. The 1984 Super Bowl, the last AFC victory before the start of the NFC's current 13-game streak, turned on a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown in the end zone and on a 5-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Jack Squirek at the end of the first half.

When the Raiders won in 1981, the MVP trophy went to quarterback Jim Plunkett. But the game-breaker was linebacker Rod Martin with his Super Bowl-record three interceptions. The Raiders broke the Minnesota Vikings in 1977 with two fourth-quarter interceptions, one returned 75 yards for a touchdown by Willie Brown.

Denver coach Mike Shanahan has repeatedly mentioned the 44-10 edge in turnovers that the NFC has amassed over its 13-game run of dominance. Turnovers: If the Broncos make them, they lose; if they don't get them, they lose.

"Anytime you have to play a great team like Green Bay, you have to play the perfect game in all three phases to win--offense, defense and special teams," Shanahan said. "We have to be perfect to beat them. We've all been to big games before and it's the turnovers. You can't make the big mistake and still expect to win."

The Broncos survived the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 in the AFC championship game by intercepting Kordell Stewart three times, twice in the end zone. In former Detroit Lion Ray Crockett, the Broncos have a cornerback who boasts four interceptions in six games against the Packers. If he's the difference-maker, it might be because of his familiarity with Brett Favre and the Packers.

"I've been very fortunate against Green Bay," Crockett said. "I've played well against them and I'm very familiar with the team and the attitude of the guys."

The attitude is there with the Packers. And if Denver can get past it, the Broncos privately believe they may be able to turn it to their advantage.

Linebacker Bill Romanowski has watched Favre the last few weeks and saw the Green Bay quarterback exchange words with Tampa Bay's Warren Sapp and San Francisco's Bryant Young. Romanowski gave Stewart a verbal working over in Pittsburgh, but doesn't expect to try finding a way into Favre's head.

"Nah, you've got to get into him with great football," Romanowski said. "You've got to put the rush on him, try to get to him with your front four and play great coverage. It's going to take an unbelievable effort to beat these guys. They're playing good football in all three phases of their game."

If the Broncos can avoid turning the ball over and giving the Packers a short field, they will only be part of the way toward fashioning what would rank as one of the great upsets in Super Bowl history.

Quarterback John Elway was unable to win any of his previous three Super Bowl starts single-handedly, and by himself he will not be able to beat Green Bay either. But this is being touted as the best Denver team to reach the NFL's final game, and the main reason is behind Elway in the form of running back Terrell Davis.

The Broncos mauled the Jacksonville Jaguars 42-17 in the wild-card game because Davis and the offensive line trampled the Jaguars for 310 rushing yards. They prevailed in Pittsburgh because once Stewart handed over the ball, Davis was able to run for 139 yards, the only time all season that a back topped 100 against the Steelers.

The problem facing the Broncos' running game is size: Their offensive line is vastly outweighed by Green Bay's defensive front. Packers tackle Gilbert Brown has roughly a 100-pound edge on Denver center Tom Nalen.

"The best way to take advantage of any offensive line is to get a good push and control the line of scrimmage," defensive end Reggie White said. "If you can do that, then you can beat the guys up front."

There is an intangible problem facing the Broncos. The Packers simply believe they can push the Broncos around, and the Broncos know that's how they feel. If there is an intimidation factor, it clearly belongs to the Packers, and they may take the Broncos out before they are ever in the game.

"Right now they have a certain swagger about themselves that they didn't have back then," Crockett said of the Packers he faced while in the NFC. "Three or four years ago, Green Bay didn't have that swagger that they have when they walk on the field now.

"When Brett Favre walks on the field, you see Antonio Freeman and those guys believe that they are champions and believe they can make plays. And they've proved it."